Page 76 of Our Little Moments

Hazel sighs. “I just wish you all could try to move forward. Yes, grief isn’t easy, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop living. It’s been so long now, Adrian.”

I rub my sister’s back, but I don’t know anymore who I’m soothing. “I know, Hazel. I know.”

I wish I could be a better brother for you. Be the brother you need.

Hazel moves out of my hold when we hear footsteps coming.

Stella and Jay are smiling. “Well, we won,” Stella says softly.

Jay pushes her shoulder playfully, and every emotion I felt seconds ago melts away when I see Stella’s smile. It’s radiant—golden like the sun.

Just like her.

Hazel giggles next to me, and the pressure on my heart eases. Stella has that effect on everyone. Just her smile, her presence, is enough to make the problems we carry less heavy.

She smiles so bright she casts everyone around her in the same glow.

God, she’s magic.

Jay’s eyes have a teasing gleam in them as he joins me. “Come on. Let’s show them how we really play the game.”

Stella and Hazel walk away, still talking animatedly.

Jay laughs. “This is goddamn gold.” He seems thoughtful for a second. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look at anyone like that.”

“Yeah . . .” I admit quietly. “I’ve never felt like that before either.”

I’d always seen falling in love as a big event. I’ve always loved people deeply, almost obsessively. I always fell in love fast.

But with Stella . . . I fell in love with her just as I fell in love with myself. I discovered parts of me I didn’t know existed before her. She inspired me to want more from life, to grow into who I want to be. She made me fall with myself just as she made me fall for her.

I never realized falling in love could be so simple. An honest conversation, a hug when you need it, a shared safe space. Those little moments where we both see each other without needing words, where the world fades away because all that matters is her. Her smile. Seeing her glow from happiness again. Having the chance to bask in her life for a few more minutes.

It’s simple yet so, so beautiful.

Jay’s shoulder playfully hits me, a wicked grin on his face. I grin back.

“Let’s go win this.”

I chuckle. “We’re the best team.”

“That’s the spirit!”

When the four of us finish counting, we all start walking to look for the other team. It doesn’t take us long to realize that Sam and Layla are in a deep conversation behind us, barely looking at their surroundings.

Jay’s hand land on my shoulders. “Well, let’s leave these two to their thing and do this together. Both of us. Just like we used to.”

I smile, reminded of all the good times we had together growing up. “Of course. We’ll always be a team.”

Jay grins, and I notice the reassurance slipped in more than he wants to let on. His grip on my shoulders loosens. His voice is stronger, more confident, when he replies, “Hell yeah.”

Jay and I separate. He goes left, near the cliff overlooking the lake, and I go right, where I was hiding before.

The soft cracking of the branches fills the air as I walk and look around. It doesn’t take me long to find Hazel and Nate laughing.

A smile lights up my face. I always loved seeing this side of Hazel.

“Nate!” she hisses between giggles. “Stop. Tickling. Me! You never . . . play fair!”

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